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POLITICO 44

Under pressure from a double-digit unemployment rate, President Barack Obama announced Thursday that he will hold a jobs summit at the White House in December.

Obama said a variety of business, labor and non-profit leaders will discuss job creation at the forum. He didn’t announce the date of the summit.

"Over the past 10 months, we've taken a number of bold steps to break the back of this recession," Obama says, repeating the claim that the stimulus created more than 1 million jobs. "As a result, the economy's now growing again for the first time in more than a year."

"The economic growth we've seen has not yet led to the job growth that we desperately need," he continues. "We all know there are limits to what government can and should do...But we have an obligation to consider every additional, responsible step we can."

Obama announced the summit just before taking off for his maiden trip to Asia. He said he would use that trip to talk to foreign leaders about ways to increase trade, which, in turn, could help create American jobs.

The unemployment rate hit 10.2 percent last month, putting added pressure on Obama to find way to jumpstart job growth. He’s also under fire from Republicans who say the $787 billion stimulus package hasn’t created enough jobs to stem the rising tide of unemployment.

“I’m hoping that this is not just another press conference,” House Republican Whip Eric Cantor told POLITICO. “We’ve seen a lot of these dog and pony shows out of the White House, but there’s no follow through.” Cantor complained that the White House has not listened to Republican ideas on job creation.

But Obama said he’s looking for good ideas, wherever they come from. "We are open to any demonstrably good idea to supplement the steps we've already taken to put America back to work," Obama said.

The problem for Obama is two-fold. There is very little he or any president can do to force immediate improvements in the economy, even though he’ll get blame if it doesn’t pick up. And now that the stimulus package has been approved, he has very few other tools left in his arsenal to give the economy a jolt.

The White House also has downplayed talk of a second stimulus package but announced last week that the administration is looking at targeted ways to create jobs, through more infrastructure projects and other ideas – but refused to specify them.

Democratic officials tell POLITICO that they have begun to worry that if the country does not enjoy robust job creation by next summer, the party could face devastating losses in November's midterm congressional elections.

It is to laugh at these feckless fools that think they can conjure up jobs while sitting round sipping their suds and gnawing boiled'n'salted peanuts. I wonder if they can hear the laughter from their clownish behavior and moans of discontent from the unemployed in ther snug little ivory towers insulated from the real world by the miasma of their heart-felt self-importance! The screams of the forgotten and dying troops in A-Stand don't even penetrate their little glass insular worlds, nothing resonates with them except the booming sound from their own circular firing squads....

Working hard all of my life..and what do I get...older and deeper in debt..

So here is my final word to Obama. NO THANK Y OU. I can see where this is heading..I don't want to owe my soul to "the company store." So no thanks Boss Man...I would rather not accept anything from you, it comes with a too big a price tag.

It's time for the administration to admit that they guessed wrong on their economic policy, and reverse course. Tax cuts to the private and business sector right now that'll put cash directly back in the two most influential components of a much needed recovery. Allocate the balance of the so-called 787B dollar stimulus. Let's go! Time is money and jobs!!

Democratic officials tell POLITICO that they have begun to worry that if the country does not enjoy robust job creation by next summer, the party could face devastating losses in November's midterm congressional elections.

The truly sad part is that they don't care about the poor folks without jobs, only about being re-elected. This is why we need term limits. Congressional folks from both parties need to be flushed.

now its a job summit, ofcourse with no definate date, does this man know how to make a decision? how to pick a date? he had rather run all over the world and visit than to have to make a solid decision on anything, what an egotistical empty suit he is.

Democratic officials tell POLITICO that they have begun to worry that if the country does not enjoy robust job creation by next summer, the party could face devastating losses in November's midterm congressional elections.

well no ....!!! plans a job summit in december? 11 months,i guess better late then never.

how about some tax & trade policy that will give businesses some incentive to stay here and expand.

This has got to be a joke. Right? The Obama administration has known this for a long time. Jobs now move to the center stage because they don't want to lose seats in Congress. That's kinda hard to swallow. The only important thing is for the Democrats to hold on to their seats in Congress. What about the American workers? Hell of a thing to say after so many have jobs, money and homes and his promise to create or save jobs. This makes me sick.

Fast forward to January 2010. As a result of Obama's highly successful Jobs Summit, the President has made a request for a $1 trillion green jobs/unemployment benefits/health care stimulus package. Obama also warned that if he did not get the $1 trillion package, unemployment will go to 13%.

Long Live the John Gault Plan. Reduced taxes, increased government benefits, increased economic freedom and increased collective obligations, higher wages and lower prices.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS PROVING TO BE ONE OF OUR GREATEST PRESIDENTS - AND HOW DO I KNOW THIS? BECAUSE THE WINGBALLS ARE STILL FOAMING AT THE MOUTH ABOUT THE SAME OLD ISSUES - NO NEW PROBLEMS WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION - IT IS SO REFRESHING TO HAVE AN INTELLIGENT LEADER THAT ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!